Ironic problems that LA Rams 'superhero' rookie punter Ethan Evans creates
By Bret Stuter
Ethan Evans? You got some 'splaining to do
So how does Ethan Evans compare in two preseason games so far? Well, for that answer, we'd best visualize how Evans punting has gone with a data table. So lets draw one up and take a look:
Vs Team | # Punts | Yards | Avg | # Returns | Yards | Avg ret | Net Avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 6 | 308 | 51.3 | 3 | 84 | 28.0 | 37.3 |
Raiders | 7 | 388 | 55.4 | 5 | 97 | 19.4 | 41.6 |
Opponents may not be as fearful of the Rams punter as you may wish to believe. In two games, Rams opponents have returned eight punts for a total of 181 yards and a touchdown. That average out to 22.6 yards per punt return, which is an alarmingly effective return game.
To place this all into even better perspective, Ethan Evans is punting the football at a phenomenal pace of 53.54 yards per punt. But his net punting average is a modest 39.6 yards per punt. If compared to last year's statistics, He would be ranked first overall in terms of gross punt yards per punt, but nosedive down to dead last in terms of net yards per punt.
The irony is that it's the net yards per punt that NFL coaches focus on. So yes, Ethan Evans, it looks like you've got some 'splaining to do.
Superboy today, superman tomorrow
But let's shed this doomsday scenario right now, okay? As stated in the first slide of this article, the presence of rookie punter Ethan Evans allows the LA Rams to have their cake and eat it too. So what do I mean but that oxymoron?
Not exactly. The most difficult function of any NFL punter is getting distance. Right now, Ethan Evans has shown the ability to kick a tennis ball to the moon if he so chose. And it's that raw power that makes him capable of 'superhero type stuff,' when he is punting the football:
But what good is that if opposing teams average 20+ yards per punt return?